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When X-Men hit theaters in 2000, it launched Hugh Jackman into Hollywood stardom as Wolverine. But behind the scenes, his co-star Anna Paquin, who played Rogue, saw just how much he endured to bring the clawed mutant to life.
Paquin, who had already won an Academy Award at age 11 for The Piano, recalled in a 2021 interview how close she became with Jackman on set. She described him as “a lovely, gracious human being” and admitted he was the person she bonded with the most while filming.
That friendship also made it hard for her to watch what he went through physically. She remembered brutal shooting conditions, including freezing temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees. On top of that, Jackman often had to perform painful stunts, like being dropped repeatedly onto his back from buildings. Through it all, Paquin said he “never ever complained” and still had the kindness and patience to treat everyone around him with warmth.
One moment she shared even highlighted how tough his Wolverine costume could be. Because of the sharp claws, Jackman once couldn’t get a cigar out of his teeth without risking injury. Paquin had to help him remove it safely—a memory she laughed about years later.
Jackman’s dedication paid off. His Wolverine went on to become one of the most iconic roles in superhero cinema, spanning multiple sequels and spinoffs. Most recently, he reprised the character in Deadpool & Wolverine, proving that his first grueling days on X-Men helped shape a legacy that has lasted decades.